Good Cellular Deals (Finally)
Aki Damme
On Mon, 08 Jun 1998 10:10:57 -0400, "Ken M." <pobo...@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:
>
>With five cellular carriers in this area the prices are dropping every
>month. It's about time!
>
>The best deal I've seen so far is ATT's new Government Plan for
>goverment employees. For $13.99 per month you get:
>
>100 minutes of airtime (OR) unlimited nights and weekends. (Digital)
>
>Included is:
>
>*Free voicemail
>*Free Text Messaging (someone can send you a message from email.
>*Caller ID
>*Call Waiting
>*Conference Call
>*1st Incoming Minute Free
>
>Information at: http://www.simply-wireless.com
>
>You can get all of this for about 50 cents per day. The companies are
>now competing after ten years of high rates. If you know of another good
>deal please share it with us!
>
>(ken)
>--
>
>=================================================================
>See some sample photos taken with my Olympus digital camera at:
>http://www.theupperdeck.com/digitcam/
..all I know is that we spent big $$ buying a Sprint Spectrum phone
just to find out that they've basically dropped any future expansion
of the Spectrum network and are now hawking their PCS system.
Thankyouverymuch Sprint for all the false promises you made
about having "nationwide" coverage by the end of 1997! I guess
I'll just toss my one year old $200 Nokia Spectrum away and rush
right out and buy the "next" Sprint system right away because
they PROMISED this is better and nationwide!
yeah right..I even emailed Sprint customer service and asked them
if we get any kind of special discount for transferring over to
their PCS system..guess what? Not even a return message from
them!
Anyone considering buying into Sprints PCS network should
seriously consider another provider...Sprint - snake oil and
promises they haven't kept...buy into their PCS system and
next year YOU TOO might be dropped for some "other"
new technology that will "sweep the nation" and you and
your phone will be left out in the cold just like all the
Spectrum customers are being left behind.
My next phone and service will either come from AT&T,
Bell Atlantic or some other service, but you'll really have
to convince me that Sprint has something better to
offer me before I even
consider the high risk of being burned again by Sprint.
And since it's common to have dropped calls even within
the D.C. metro area, we will VERY soon be dropping
Sprint and their "promised" network...just like they've done
to all of us....
-aki
Romi
I'm very familiar with what you're taking about and I believe you're
blowing this out of proportion although I agree with some of your
accusations against Sprint.
From the beginning, Sprint was a partner, not sole owner of the Sprint
Spectrum (GSM standard) network. Only recently (within last 6 months) has
Sprint bought out their partner and now owns the entire Spectrum network.
You indicate that you bought your phone over 1 year ago so you joined
Sprint Spectrum well before the total buyout by Sprint. They very well may
have been planning to expand the network at that time. Also, there was a
big move towards the CDMA standard (used by Sprint's PCS service) by many
cell carriers last year. I don't think you've been ripped off at all; you
just got whipsawed by changing technology and company owners. Also, Sprint
PCS was not offered in this area until the end of April this year. Hence,
you'd have been waiting a long time before the new PCS system became
available. Also, you don't have to throw out your Nokia, you can sell it
over the internet. There are other GSM systems (the standard used by
Sprint Spectrum) in the US that this phone would be useful on.
What I DO think is despicable is that Sprint is STILL selling Sprint
Spectrum service to people. Go to any Staples and see for yourself. If
you bought your Sprint Spectrum service in the last few months, then you
did get ripped (IMHO). Sprint has stated they will maintain their Spectrum
service but it will not be expanded. My guess is that very few people know
that Sprint is offering two services in the DC area. They are expanding
their PCS service. I haven't compared the Spectrum vs. PCS rates so
hopefully the Spectrum rates are alot cheaper.
Finally, I am not an employee or in any way affiliated with Sprint. I also
do not use their cell service because it does not offer the level of
coverage I need. People seem to be happy with the Sprint PCS service in
the DC area. Go to alt.cellular and check it out yourself.
--
Romi
ro...@erolsnospam.com
(remove "nospam" when e-mailing)
Aki Damme <aki....@worldnet.att.net> wrote in article
<6lofgv$1...@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net>...
jne...@my-dejanews.com
> > >The best deal I've seen so far is ATT's new Government Plan for
> > >goverment employees. For $13.99 per month you get:
Has anyone tried to get this rate as a non-government employee? By offering a
special rate to people for no particular good reason AT&T stands to alienate a
large portion of the population.
I've been weighing Sprint PCS vs AT&T but the cheapest plan from AT&T is $25
a month vs $17 from Sprint. Since I anticipate light usage why should I give
AT&T another $8 a month? Now if they offer me that $14 a month plan we can
talk.
John
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading
Aki Damme
On 11 Jun 1998 18:15:09 GMT, "Romi" <ro...@erolsnospam.com> wrote:
>I'm very familiar with what you're taking about and I believe you're
>blowing this out of proportion although I agree with some of your
>accusations against Sprint.
>
>From the beginning, Sprint was a partner, not sole owner of the Sprint
>Spectrum (GSM standard) network. Only recently (within last 6 months) has
>Sprint bought out their partner and now owns the entire Spectrum network.
>You indicate that you bought your phone over 1 year ago so you joined
>Sprint Spectrum well before the total buyout by Sprint. They very well may
>have been planning to expand the network at that time. Also, there was a
>big move towards the CDMA standard (used by Sprint's PCS service) by many
>cell carriers last year. I don't think you've been ripped off at all; you
>just got whipsawed by changing technology and company owners.
..whoa...that's where we take different turns...I couldn't care LESS
who/what/where owned Sprint WHEN, that's not MY problem
(however Sprint has obviously made it mine and the rest of their
Spectrum customer base). They made a promise, which they
did not keep and now I'm just supposed to think, "oh well, they
changed hands so it's totally understandable that I'm out $200" gee,
I hope they don't take another left turn if I invest my money on their
pcs system".
I have no argument that technology marches on, and that at some
point , it's perfectly logical that I would cut my losses on legacy
technology and invest in something better, however my point is
that when I purchased the phone and it's associated services,
it was TOLD to me that it was the wave of the future and it would
be nationwide by the end of the year. Ok, it's not and it wasn't,
however, if for no other reason than corporate conscience and
good business, Sprint should provide some compensation
to their Spectrum customers to switch over to their PCS network.
They're the ones that got us all into this mess in the first place.
If they had spent half as much money on keeping their customer
base happy as they did *advertising* the Spectrum service, we wouldn't
be discussing this now.
>Also, Sprint
>PCS was not offered in this area until the end of April this year. Hence,
>you'd have been waiting a long time before the new PCS system became
>available. Also, you don't have to throw out your Nokia, you can sell it
>over the internet. There are other GSM systems (the standard used by
>Sprint Spectrum) in the US that this phone would be useful on.
...maybe but the depreciation of the phone is nowhere near what
I'll get for it ($100 if I'm lucky)...
>
>What I DO think is despicable is that Sprint is STILL selling Sprint
>Spectrum service to people. Go to any Staples and see for yourself. If
>you bought your Sprint Spectrum service in the last few months, then you
>did get ripped (IMHO).
..again we differ..if you bought Sprint Spectrum service AT ALL, you
were ripped off because they did not honor their contract to have
national coverage...and to me that's simple breach of contract. or...
even more simplisticaly, bait and switch...
>Sprint has stated they will maintain their Spectrum
>service but it will not be expanded. My guess is that very few people know
>that Sprint is offering two services in the DC area. They are expanding
>their PCS service. I haven't compared the Spectrum vs. PCS rates so
>hopefully the Spectrum rates are alot cheaper.
..you'll also notice that their t.v. advertisements look striking
similiar to their previous Spectrum commericals...adding to
the confusion...
Moe
Ken M. wrote:
>
> > Talk is Chic
> > Wireless Plans Compared: Our Guide to What They Cost and
> > Where They Work
> >
> > By Rob Pegoraro
> > Washington Post Staff Writer
> > Friday, May 29, 1998; Page N39
> >
> > Ask yourself this: When was the last time you were in a
> > public place and you didn't see someone either toting or
> > talking on a cell phone?
> >
> > The Washington area has one of the country's highest
> > rates of cell-phone use, and not just because there are
> > so many lawyers around here. We've benefited from some
> > remarkable price competition since Sprint Spectrum
> > arrived in November 1995 to break open the original
> > wireless-service duopoly of Bell Atlantic and Cellular
> > One; now you can see three different stores in three
> > blocks promising to help you go wireless for less than
> > $20 a month. Walking by their ads, it's hard not to sign
> > up on the spot.
> >
> > Before you throw down the credit card, though, you
> > should step back and ask yourself a few questions.
> > Figuring out how often you'd use a wireless phone (by
> > "wireless" we mean both traditional analog cellular and
> > the newer digital options) is the first step in deciding
> > which wireless service -- if any -- to buy into.
> >
> > "Where and when in your life do you need and want to be
> > in contact?" says Eric Litman, who runs the Wireless
> > Outpost Web site and a series of mailing lists for
> > wireless users. "Who am I going to contact? Do I spend a
> > lot of time in one area?"
> >
> > In short, how often will you be away from your regular
> > home and work phones, and how often will you call other
> > people at those times? If the answers are "not often" --
> > say, if you have a short commute -- you should probably
> > stick to carrying enough change around for pay phones or
> > simply (gasp!) not being reachable at times. After all,
> > getting a wireless phone doesn't just mean getting yet
> > another new toy to haul around, it also means yet
> > another monthly bill you can forget to put in the mail.
> >
> > If you do want a wireless phone, the next step is to
> > pick a system to subscribe to. Consumers in the D.C.
> > area have seven choices: AT&T Digital PCS, Bell Atlantic
> > Mobile's digital and analog services, Cellular One's
> > digital and analog services, Sprint PCS and Sprint
> > Spectrum. (An eighth option, Nextel , is a digital
> > service marketed toward businessfolk, with monthly price
> > plans that start at $40, higher than the other seven
> > services profiled here.) We profile these seven options
> > in the charts that appear below, listing rates, coverage
> > areas, estimates of monthly costs under various calling
> > patterns and our reviewers' impressions.
> >
> > Of those seven wireless choices, all but two -- the Bell
> > Atlantic and Cellular One analog systems -- offer
> > all-digital or primarily digital connections. All of
> > them work in basically the same way: A network of
> > antennas, each from 75 to 250 feet high and no more than
> > a few miles apart from a counterpart, transmits phone
> > signals. When you move from one antenna's "cell" to the
> > next, the wireless network observes that and seamlessly
> > hands you off to the next antenna. All of them also
> > share the two basic advantages of wireless service over
> > landline phones: an enormous local-calling-rate area
> > that stretches from West Virginia to the Atlantic Ocean
> > and no extra charges for things like caller ID and call
> > waiting.
> >
> > But while the analog systems basically reproduce the
> > patterns of the human voice as radio waves, the digital
> > systems encode sound as a series of ones and zeroes, in
> > much the same way a compact disc stores music.
> >
> > (You'll also hear the abbreviation "PCS," short for
> > "Personal Communications Service," used to describe
> > digital services; it simply refers to a subset of
> > digital cellular that uses a different frequency -- 1900
> > MHz -- than the 800 MHz transmissions of traditional
> > cellular service. There's no significant difference
> > between it and non-PCS digital cellular.)
> >
> > The five digital wireless systems, all relative
> > newcomers to the D.C. area, are the ones you're most
> > likely to hear about, thanks to digital's unchallenged
> > status as the hot buzzword in wireless advertising. But
> > put that hype on hold; not all of digital's alleged
> > advantages show up in everyday use. Consider:
> >
> > * Sound quality. People like to claim digital is the way
> > to go if you want to fool people into thinking you're
> > calling from a landline phone. Not so. We found that,
> > even under good conditions, digital systems often gave a
> > telltale wispy tone to voices. Under bad conditions, the
> > digital systems sounded more like lousy RealAudio
> > downloads, with frequent, brief drop-outs and a harsh,
> > metallic tone. "My experience with digital is that when
> > it's great, it's great; when it's bad, it's terrible,"
> > said Mark Lowenstein, an analyst with the Yankee Group,
> > a Boston-based market research firm. Once a digital
> > signal gets weak, "you really fall off a cliff."
> >
> > Another thing to keep in mind before obsessing about
> > voice quality is that, unless you plan to use a wireless
> > phone in a soundproof room, any minor sound glitches
> > will be drowned out by the noises around you -- traffic,
> > pedestrians and whatnot.
> >
> > * Security. Analog phones have traditionally been
> > vulnerable to "cloning" -- theft of service by people
> > who pick off a cell phone's number and subscriber data
> > over the air -- while digital phones lack this weakness.
> > But many cellular providers have improved their own
> > security with various authentication mechanisms,
> > drastically reducing the incidence of cloning, according
> > to Herschel Shosteck, president of a wireless-industry
> > market research firm in Wheaton.
> >
> > * Privacy. Newt Gingrich found this out the hard way:
> > Anybody with a radio scanner can eavesdrop on analog
> > cellular conversations. But tune that scanner to a
> > digital phone's transmission, and all you'll hear is the
> > stream of ones and zeroes that makes up a digital
> > signal. This is a real improvement. But consider this:
> > Do you have a problem using an equally vulnerable analog
> > cordless phone at home? Many people don't.
> >
> > * Extra features. Digital phones can receive text
> > messages, act as pagers and even receive news updates or
> > weather forecasts, things that are difficult, if not
> > impossible, to do with analog phones. But many of these
> > functions also cost extra.
> >
> > * Battery life. This is the one area where digital does
> > wipe out analog, thanks to the ability of a digital
> > phone's network to put it in a "sleep" mode and then
> > wake it up for an incoming call. Where an analog phone
> > may need to be recharged nightly, a digital phone can go
> > for up to several days on a single charge.
> >
> > The other big issue in choosing between analog and
> > digital is pricing. For light use, analog is often
> > cheaper, but once you get into moderate-to-heavy use,
> > digital becomes more cost-effective.
> >
> > Finally, analog phones work virtually everywhere, while
> > digital phones often go dead once you wander too far
> > beyond the Beltway or off the local Interstates. That's
> > why almost all digital services today come with an
> > analog backup network (for which you need to buy a
> > "dual-mode" or "dual-band" phone that works on both
> > networks). If you're on a hybrid system, watch out for
> > "hard handoffs," in which the digital signal conks out
> > before an analog signal can kick in.
> >
> > Here's our recommendation: If you just want a phone to
> > keep around for safety and security purposes -- in case
> > your car breaks down, to call 911 in an emergency or to
> > phone ahead to say you're running late for your own
> > wedding -- get an analog service. The phone will
> > probably cost next to nothing and work essentially
> > everywhere.
> >
> > But if you plan to use a wireless phone for two or more
> > hours a month, it's hard to beat digital, if for no
> > other reason than that the phone will spend less time
> > chained to the nearest electrical outlet. But prepare to
> > be unimpressed by the voice quality and realize that
> > you'll probably have to rely on a digital service's
> > analog backup for some time to come, especially if you
> > head out into the countryside. Building a wireless
> > network is an expensive, time-consuming task; each
> > antenna that goes up requires approval by multiple
> > government bodies, from county zoning boards to the
> > Federal Aviation Administration. And -- this one applies
> > to both digital and analog systems -- even when you
> > think you should be able to get a signal, if too many
> > people are already using the system, you'll be kept off
> > the air.
> >
> > Fortunately, picking a handset is easier than choosing a
> > wireless provider, as long as you focus on the basics,
> > starting with battery life and size. With a digital
> > phone, you'll want to be able to carry it around for at
> > least three or so days between charges; you can also buy
> > extra-life batteries, but they add bulk and weight to
> > the phone. Smaller phones are easier to take everywhere,
> > but can be more difficult to hold.
> >
> > Ease of use comes next. The best innovation we've seen
> > in this department is the "jog dial" feature on some
> > Sony and Qualcomm phones, which lets you spin a little
> > thumbwheel to cycle through functions and stored
> > numbers, then press it in to select an option or a
> > number -- something that takes much more time if you
> > have to hit a "menu" button, then toggle "up," "down"
> > and "ok" buttons. The Wireless Dimension Web site offers
> > more advice on phone shopping.
> >
> > Finally, if you're going to subscribe to a
> > digital/analog hybrid system, get a phone that works
> > both ways unless you're sure you'll never leave the
> > system's digital service area. After you've dropped $100
> > or more on a sexy digital handset, the last thing you
> > want to do is cough up another 35 cents to use a boring
> > old pay phone.
> ===================================================================
>
> With five cellular carriers in this area the prices are dropping every
> month. It's about time!
>
> goverment employees. For $13.99 per month you get:
>
>
> Included is:
>
> *Free voicemail
> *Free Text Messaging (someone can send you a message from email.
> *Caller ID
> *Call Waiting
> *Conference Call
> *1st Incoming Minute Free
>
> Information at: http://www.simply-wireless.com
>
> You can get all of this for about 50 cents per day. The companies are
> now competing after ten years of high rates. If you know of another good
$50.00 a month.Go see them and tell them Moe sent you.I don't work them
but am very pleased with there serves.Moe.
Dave Perrussel
On Thu, 11 Jun 1998 11:26:15 GMT, aki....@worldnet.att.net (Aki Damme) wrote:
>..all I know is that we spent big $$ buying a Sprint Spectrum phone
>just to find out that they've basically dropped any future expansion
>of the Spectrum network and are now hawking their PCS system.
Sprint Spectrum was an experiment. Thought you knew that. Washington DC was the
test market for it and it obviously either didn't take off like they wanted or
wanted to go with a "standard' like PCS (TDMA or CDMA - not sure what they use)
David Lesher
aki....@worldnet.att.net (Aki Damme) wrote:
>..all I know is that we spent big $$ buying a Sprint Spectrum phone
>just to find out that they've basically dropped any future expansion
>of the Spectrum network and are now hawking their PCS system.
Two+ years ago, a friend was considering Sprint/APC. It was the
ONLY option to the AMPS-bandits. (At that point, he was fully aware
that it was one-shot/no-expansion deal. I'd be very surprised if
they suddenly pulled all disclaimers back and concealed this
after-the-fact.) His sunk cost was $100, period. No contracts
to sign, no penalty to cancel. Given the cumulative
monthly/mileage charges, that's almost trivial.
--
A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
pat
i'd have to agree with David here.
I also don't know how you spent $200, i got the ericson phone for
$59 once i value the gift certificate included in it.
I've spent far more then that on air charges. and if i switch to SPRINT
PCS,
they will give me a $39 trade in discount, so that's not too bad.
and i find my PCS phone working in Philly and NYC, so i'm not terminal on
the
issue.
CDMA came out and nuked GSM.
pat
Dylan Ginsburg
"Ken M." <pobo...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>> I've been weighing Sprint PCS vs AT&T but the cheapest plan from AT&T is $25
>> a month vs $17 from Sprint. Since I anticipate light usage why should I give
>> AT&T another $8 a month? Now if they offer me that $14 a month plan we can
>> talk.
Be warned that Sprint PCS is notorious for having spotty coverage in
all of their markets and there are a lot of complaints about their
customer service. Their current coverage map even admits having some
big holes and you've got to figure that the real coverage won't be as
good as their map.
I strongly discourage you from getting the $99 Samsung phone they
offer. This is a digital only phone and when you go into one of these
non-covered areas you will have no service. Get one of their dual mode
digital/analog phones then at least you'll be covered in the analog
areas, albeit at $.50/minute roaming rates. However, the dual mode
phones cost $200 and, from your message, it sounds like you want to
keep it cheap.
For light, local usage I would probably just go with Bell Atlantic
analog. The basic phones are pretty much free. In fact, for a while
Circuit City was offering free phones *plus* a $75 mail in rebate. The
coverage is as good as you're going to get in this area and the home
rate is extensive. The lower airtime packages are reasonable and
they're offering a nice promotion through the end of the year. The
biggest negative is that you have to sign a contract for a year with a
hefty early termination fee.
I'm happy with AT&T but, like you said, they don't have a plan geared
to a really lite user.
-Dylan
jai2...@gmail.com
we provide best deals in Washington DC, best online deals. Our deals offer best discounts on beauty spa treatments Sign up now for a new deal every day. Looking for natural and beneficial technique for hair removal?? Here comes the band aid for your theme. New Look Day Spa and Laser are having expertise people dealing with this technique.
for more details:
https://www.newlookdeals.com/
Address: 201 Elden St, Suite #203, Herndon, VA 20170
Customer Enquire:
custome...@newlookdeals.com.